Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Anonymous, on May 14, 2019 at 5:28 pm said:

Thanks for your response, Fr Joe. The church I was in was 100% a Catholic Church. And, the priest is 100% a Catholic priest. I have been to Mass at this Church several times. It’s not my parish. but it has a Mass time that is convenient to me because of my work schedule. This priest gives really good homilies and is celebrating 40 years of ordination this year. It was my first time going to confession to him, and I honestly did not expect it to go the way it did.
Should I assume I have not received forgiveness then? I’ve never had this happen before. I went to Mass at a different church on my way to work this morning and wasn’t sure I should receive Communion. I did, but I’m feeling upset that I didn’t get to finish my Confession. He never said ‘I absolve you” and those beautiful words of absolution. It was a very odd experience, but no doubt I was in the right place with a Catholic priest.
Thank you.

FATHER JOE: No, you did not receive absolution. If it were as you say, then you did not go to confession. Could the priest be ill?
Diana, on May 14, 2019 at 1:29 pm said:

My husband was baptized in the Catholic Church, and had his first communion in a Catholic Church, but his family moved to New Jersey, but because my father in law was a detective, he was put off by the extent to which the Catholic Church in their town was connected to the mafia, so when he was around 10, my in-laws started going to mass in the Episcopal Church, and he was confirmed in the Episcopal Church when he was 14. My husband says since the Catholic Church believes the sacraments of the Episcopal Church aren’t valid, then his confirmation never occurred, so in the eyes of the Catholic Church he’s Catholic, and in the eyes of the Episcopal Church he’s Episcopal… so the long and short of this is, we go to a Catholic Church when we’re home, but for the summers, we go to the Episcopal church near our cottage. We had a Catholic priest at our wedding in Ann Episcopal Church, and we took the classes and did the paperwork to have our marriage recognized in the Catholic Church, and our kids went to catholic school until they were in HS, when the tution for the Catholic HS was too expensive. Anyway, this summer Episcopalian arrangement is stressing out my parents. Help me come up with an answer that will either calm them down, or convince my husband we have to be Catholic year round. He rather likes exposing the kids to a female priest and pointing out how medieval the Catholic Church is, and that it took the Catholic Church 350 years to acknowledge that Galileo was right… it’s a balancing act with him.

FATHER JOE:

We recognize the sacrament of baptism and when not involving Catholics, the sacrament of marriage within the Episcopal Church. Your husband is right that we generally do not accept Episcopal confirmation. Given that your husband was baptized as a Catholic (and received Holy Communion as such) he is also correct that he is juridically considered a Catholic. Given that your marriage was witnessed by a Catholic priest and the the proper dispensation was acquired, the two of you should practice your faith exclusively in the Catholic Church. As a matter of principle, we do NOT recognize the Eucharist or the priesthood in the Episcopal Church as valid. Catholics are forbidden to take communion in Episcopal churches and weekend participation does not satisfy the Sunday obligation to participate at Catholic Mass. Wavering between churches is regarded as the error of religious indifferentism.

The ultimate issue here may well be what your husband believes. He may be a Catholic, but how fully Catholic is he in his thinking and practical faith?

Cardinal Bellarmine and many Church authorities were sympathetic to Galileo’s views. Even Pope Urban VIII initially liked him. Had Galileo shared his mathematics and findings simply as a scientist he probably would not have attracted much attention from the Pope. Indeed, the Pope initially defended his studies in both the Ptolemaic and the Copernican theories. However, he was warned not to mix his scientific studies with teachings that would conflict with the faith, especially if they might confuse lesser minds. Unfortunately, Galileo additionally sought to prove his views with a peculiar commentary of Scripture and the literary characterization of the pontiff as a fool. He was consequently convicted of “suspected heresy,” placed under house arrest and unfortunately urged to reject the Copernican perspective. It was for this that the late Pope John Paul II made one of his notable apologies for a historical wrong. The Church had long earlier recognized that Galileo had made genuine astronomical breakthroughs (Galileo recognized the orbits of planets were more elliptical than Copernicus’ circles.)

As for women priests, the prohibition is not a matter of science but of long-standing tradition and faith. We are locked into the pattern that Christ gives and the apostolic Church followed. Without any revelation to the contrary, we do not have the authority to change it. There is a serious and credible theology for the male-only priesthood. The priest acts at the altar in the person of Christ as the head of the Church. The priest is a living icon for Christ. Gender is not an accidental but a constitutive element of human identity. Christ (the priest) is the divine groom to his bride, the Church. This is known as the marriage analogy of holy orders.
Anonymous, on May 14, 2019 at 3:02 am said:

Hi Father Joe,
What is the basic requirement for Confession to be valid? I has a rather confusing experience last weekend. Maybe the priest was in a rush, or something was the matter, I’m not sure. But, he seemed fine and didn’t say anything to indicate a problem.

It was my first time going to him for confession. I confessed one thing, he gave me a little advice on it, and before I could even continue, he gave me 3 “Our Fathers” for a penance, didn’t have me say an Act of Contrition, and said, “God Forgives you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.” And that was it! It was over before I could even finish what I planned to confess, I didn’t say an Act of Contrition, and He didn’t say the words of absolution (which is my favorite part, hearing those words). I was so caught off guard. It was the fastest confession of my life!

I don’t go to confession often because of time limitations working most Saturdays. It had been several months for me, and I was looking forward to going since I finally had the opportunity due to the day off from work. I left confession feeling a bit frustrated, unsatisfied, disgruntled, and a bit confused. I walked out thinking, “I guess Jesus doesn’t have time for me today”.

So, I’m not sure what to think about it. I know this priest, and he is a very kind and holy man otherwise. Was enough of the sacrament completed for me to receive absolution? I guess I don’t feel forgiven. I was thinking of trying to go again to someone else, but it will be a number of weeks before I’m off on another Saturday.

Should I just try to let it go? I can’t seem to stop thinking about it.
Thank you.

FATHER JOE: Were you in a church that was truly Catholic? Are you sure he was a real priest? If he did not say the words of absolution with the intention to forgive your sins then it was NOT confession. It sounds Protestant to me… some of their churches have a sacramental (not sacrament) that is analogous but not the same as the sacrament of penance. For instance, certain Episcopalians and Lutherans offer a variation upon confession where the priest will affirm the forgiveness that Jesus has already granted from the Cross. That would fit in with what you write, “God forgives you….” Catholicism actually claims that the priest has the power to forgive sins: “I absolve you….” The focus is quite different. It sounds to me that you were in the wrong house. If the church be Catholic then I would suggest telling the pastor or authorities as soon as possible.
Luke, on May 14, 2019 at 1:53 am said:

Hey father this weekend I’m graduating and they do this event where the bring in a hypnotist and have some of the students hypnotized. Is this against our religion? Would it be sinful for me to laugh at or even watch someone get hypnotized? Thanks.

FATHER JOE: Hypnosis may be a useful tool for medical professionals but I would not be a fan of it as entertainment. I cannot say it is absolutely condemned by the Church but it is discouraged. Certainly, if it is part of any New Age religion then it would be sinful to become involved. Do you really want to open doors to your mind and subconscious to people you do not know or trust? All of us, Christian or not, should be wary of anyone who would seek to manipulate or control us. I also believe that the devil might find a way to exploit the vulnerability that comes with hypnosis.
Riley, on May 13, 2019 at 10:11 pm said:

Hey i have this spider demon thats with me for a couple months. It non stop talks in my head and theres a bunch of spider legs moving on the roof. Its not letting me think straight and i cant visualize imagines, i pretty much cant see anything when i try to imagine in my mind. I dont know what to do. I dont know where to go. It makes me feel emotions. Im confused and it makes feel weak willed.

FATHER JOE: I suspect you have a mental issue. Please see a mental health professional. I will keep you in prayer.
Joshua, on May 13, 2019 at 11:35 am said:

Dear Fr. Joe,

I hope you can help me out with a moral question. I have already sent messages to other ask-a-priest sites, but received no replies as yet. Apologies for the length of my post.

I am a British expatriate living in China. I am presently in a relationship of seven years with a Chinese woman, which began with an adulterous affair. Although neither of us originally intended this affair to lead to her divorce, it did after the husband found out and cut her off without alimony. After this happened, I began cohabiting with her at her request, and have financially supported her for the past five years. Originally, she had no place to live other than with me, but this changed after I borrowed money from my parents and used it to help her buy back her apartment from her ex-husband.

Over the past five years of cohabitation, I have vacillated on the question of marriage to this woman, mainly because of her behavioural problems such as overspending and morbid jealousy. However, we have built up a loving and faithful relationship and gradually begun to solve these problems; and I have had no thought of leaving her, because I always assumed that supporting her was “the right thing to do”, given that it was our affair that caused her divorce. As such, I was happy to start making preparations to get married to her from around the autumn of last year. But when I looked up the Christian doctrines on this subject, I found our relationship condemned within them as a state of mortal sin and permanent adultery (I had previously assumed that her having been divorced for marital unfaithfulness gave her the right to remarry according to the Bible). This was disconcerting, as a sense of moral duty has been a major factor in my decision to stay with this woman and consider marrying her (or at least this is what I have been telling myself all these years).

So a few days ago, I told her that we could not get married, mentioning the Christian doctrine on adultery and remarriage and bringing up my own longstanding grievances agaist her behaviour after she dismissed this as a reason. Once she had calmed down from her initial shock, however, she made the argument that breaking up our six-year “de facto marriage” would only compound the original sin of our adultery. She says she is sorry for what she has done, but she no longer has a husband to return to, given that he despises her for running off with a foreigner and would never take her back even if she wanted to go back to him. She asserts that we have effectively created a new marriage, and expresses disbelief at the fact that I am considering breaking it up after “she divorced her husband for me” (this isn’t really true, because it was her husband who unilaterally divorced her because he got sick of her adultery, but I can see the point she is trying to make).

This is why I am writing to you, having reached the limits of personal research. I have already decided that, if we should separate, I will borrow enough money from my parents to support her until her retirement age. Thus, all I wish to know is whether it could ever be acceptable for us to marry within Christianity or not. Please give me some guidance.

FATHER JOE:

Let me warn you, you may not like what I will say…

Many important questions are not answered. What is your denomination and are you a baptized Christian? What is the woman’s religion? How old are the two of you? How are you employed? Why are you in China instead of home in the UK?

While Catholicism believes that marriage is a lifelong bond, as taught by Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, she also has her own rules, i.e. a Catholic marriage must be witnessed by a priest or deacon. We recognize the natural bonds of those who are not Christians. We acknowledge the sacramental bonds of Protestants before their own ministers or civil magistrates.

As you relate, the current relationship you have with this woman began with an extramarital affair. When the adultery was discovered, her husband divorced her. This left her destitute and so out of a sense of guilt and duty you provided for her and began to cohabitate with her (now for five years). As far as I can see, that is the gist of your longer narrative.

Marriage requires a degree of certainty for which you cannot assert given “vacillation” on the question. Further, those who would be spouses must be truly capable of fulfilling their marital obligations; her “behavioral problems” as you put it would place this in some doubt. You mention “a loving and faithful relationship” but it is also a sinful union and seemingly one fueled by guilt on your part and dependence on hers. Is her tie to you one of affection and a willingness to practice sacrificial love or one of convenience and material gain? Your description makes me think it is the latter.

Again, lacking from what you write is any reference to Christian denomination or religious identity— for either you or the woman with whom you live. The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce and those with prior bonds who would be married in the Church must first procure annulments (signifying that earlier unions were not true marriages). The Episcopal Church frowns on divorce but in many cases will permit a second union when it is felt the prior marriage has died. Catholicism would reject such an interpretation— marriage is until one of the spouses dies— not simply the satisfaction or joy of the union.

Given that she is truly married to her husband, yes you are living in a state of adultery. However, even if neither of you were married, cohabitation and having sexual relations is the sin of fornication. That is also a mortal sin. A sense of moral duty is insufficient cause for marriage and the fault of the adultery is also hers.

It may sound harsh, but my recommendation would be to separate from her. She must also take personal accountability for her life. What you describe does not sound like a “mutual” life but one that is “parasitical.” It seems that one gives and the other only takes. You may give her some assistance but you are not responsible to care for her in perpetuity. Her argument that a breakup would compound the wrong is a fallacious rationalization. Given that there are no children, you should urge her to find employment and then the two of you should live your own lives.

As for borrowing more money from your parents, that strikes me as your failure to be your own man. Your parents are not responsible for your mistakes and sins. They may be generous, but I suspect you are also abusing that relationship. Again, how old are you? Such reliance on family seems symptomatic of a gross personal immaturity. That would also speak against attempting marriage.

I will keep you both in prayer.
Stacie, on May 11, 2019 at 5:14 pm said:

Fr Joe, I just got back from confession about 3.5 hrs ago, and already I have in mind something I did years ago that I never confessed because it never occurred to me to do so. But I think I am guilty of scandal. I remember telling my husband he could cut the grass on Sunday (we had some kind of conflict and he was concerned about getting it done). He said he didn’t want to, and I was disdainful. I’m ashamed remembering that now (we are talking over 10 yrs ago). Now sometimes he does cut the grass on Sunday because of the weather or the way his days off fall or other factors, but I cannot help but feel like I led him to break that commandment. I confess that I always thought that keeping holy the Lord’s day just meant going to mass, and didn’t really know that refraining from servile labor was inherent. (Yes, my education was lacking badly.) So he was right and I was wrong. I’m going to be out of town this coming weekend and although we are going to mass, I wonder if I need to make sure I get to confession first, so I can receive communion. I wish I had thought of this a few hours ago. I was feeling so joyful up until right now.

FATHER JOE: The direction by the Church is to go to Mass, spend time with family and avoid unnecessary servile work. Sometimes all you have is Sunday and if you do not get the grass cut, you will get a citation or fine from the county. We do what we have to do. God understands.
anon, on May 11, 2019 at 3:36 pm said:

is it a sin to chug one beer? my friend told me she did and i didn’t tell her that she shouldn’t have done that because i wasn’t sure if it was a sin or not. she knows getting drunk is a sin though. i just said to her, “that’s intense!” instead of any kind of advice because i didn’t want her to get mad at me. I know we are obligated to fraternally correct but I didn’t even know if this was a big deal.

FATHER JOE: If one would become sick or intoxicated then it would certainly be sinful. Chugging beer is often associated with various levels of intoxication… how much can you consume before becoming sick? Alcohol games can be dangerous. There are stories about young people doing such, especially females, who later became sick or even died from alcohol poisoning. Risking one’s health unnecessarily is certainly a sin. I think it would be proper to urge your friend to be careful and to drink in moderation.
Hilary, on May 9, 2019 at 8:06 pm said:

What do you think about this?

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/pope-francis-requires-priests-nuns-155444711.html

Why does an accusation of abuse have to go through the Church/Bishop at all? Why can’t the (alleged) victim go to the police as s/he would for any other person? I understand a civil suit would probably have to go through the Church, as the individual priest has no money to pay a financial settlement, but what about criminal charges? Can’t they be directly reported to the police, and the priest arrested/charged as an individual?

FATHER JOE: The papal policy does not eradicate current efforts to stem abuse in the Church. Among these efforts is the stipulation that the police authorities should be immediately informed. The Church has to get involved because the priest is not simply employed by the Church; he belongs to the Church. The Church is his spouse. He is paid by the parish. He lives in church housing. He is on call 24 hours a day to minister to God’s people. If a priest is a danger to parishioners, then the Church must take action to remove him from ministry and to safeguard families from further harm. If the priest must be removed then another must quickly be found to replace him… to say Mass, to hear confessions, to operate the parish and school, etc.
Pauline, on May 8, 2019 at 1:28 pm said:

Fr. Joe can I check with you if this devotionis true?”Devotion to the Drops of Blood Lost by our Lord Jesus Christ on His Way to Calvary”
You say 2 Our Father 2 Hail Mary and 2 Glory be every day
Details in this link
http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/holy-wounds2.htm

FATHER JOE: I know nothing about the devotion you mention. I suspect that it might be a variation of the 15 prayers of the mystic Saint Bridget of Sweden that focus upon the passion of Christ. Indulgences have been revised so that information is no longer reliable. I liked the prayers in my seminary days, but was not overly concerned about the purported promises attached to the devotion.
Patrick, on May 7, 2019 at 11:44 pm said:

Dear Fr,
After 20 years, my marriage is headed towards divorce. My question is what are the actual sins that are committed when a catholic marriage ends in divorce? No adultery, just cascading resentment and contempt. I want to know what the specific sins are that I need to confess.
Does this make sense?

FATHER JOE: When it comes to divorce “as sin” much depends upon the one who violates the bond or who walks away or abandons the spouse. Married couples are pledged to a mutual or common life of support and affection. The failure to offer that or to give it to someone else is sinful. Divorce deprives the spouse of the satisfactions that come with marriage. It is also a violation of a promise… for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health… so long as you live

.
natalie, on May 7, 2019 at 7:35 pm said:

Dear Fr,

Hi, I have a question. What is heresy? I heard that it is a sin and I am quite confused with it. Let’s say a Catholic supports gay marriage when the church says no to it. Would that be heresy since it’s a belief that the church does not support?

FATHER JOE:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines heresy as “the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same.” While we can speak of heresy regarding moral matters, it is most often connected to items in the creed. The issue of heresy can be complex because those censured often give voice to their dissent. We may all have occasional doubts about this or that, but we are obliged to invoke supernatural faith, trusting in the Holy Spirit and in the Church instituted by Christ. The issue is not only an intellectual one, but one of conscience and assent. We may not be totally convinced (intellectually) on certain points but we give “religious assent” because of a profound respect for the teaching authority established by Jesus and our trust in God. Obstinacy in dissent toward belief or in doubting an element of a vital truth is the crux of the issue with heresy.

Apostasy is a wholesale repudiation of Christianity, not simply certain Catholic beliefs. Signifying a break, schism is repudiation of obedience to the Pope and to the Catholic Church (it is understood here that the magisterium is fully united with the Pope who is, himself, faithfully interpreting received revelation).
Jeff, on May 6, 2019 at 8:51 pm said:

Fr. Joe,
A lady recently gave my wife a book by Luisa Picarreta, “The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will”. As best I can tell it is not approved by the Church and her perso al revelations seem a little ultish. So e things are very good and i teresting. Can you enlighten me any on this?

FATHER JOE: It is my understanding that her cause for sainthood is still being explored by the Church. Unless something has changed recently, until there is an “official” translation, the publication of her writings is absolutely forbidden.
chiaranit, on May 6, 2019 at 2:57 pm said:

Is “witchcraft” sin? I dont mean witchcraft like talking to devil or demons, I mean “witchcraft” with nature products (plants, crystals etc.). I have alway wanted to learn that but I was afraid that I will go to hell because of it. Even if I ever learned it I woud do only “white magic” like protection spells or good luck spells.

FATHER JOE: The Church does not recognize such a thing as “white” magic. Sorcery is condemned in Scripture. Spells of any sort are a matter of mortal sin. The Church does not condemn the use of natural remedies like the use of herbs or professional medical treatment. The Church is condemning superstition and any turning to the occult. If one invokes a spiritual power that is not God or the intercession of the saints… then it is dangerous and opening one to the demonic.
chiaranit, on May 6, 2019 at 2:50 pm said:

Is witchcraft sin? I don’t mean witchcraft like talking to devil or black magic, I mean “witchcraft” (or “white magic”) with nature products (plants, crystals etc.). I have always wanted to learn that but I never did, I am thinking of learning it now but I am afraid that I am going to go to hell.

FATHER JOE: You cannot invoke the power of demons for protection. There are no spiritual or elementary forces. Invoke the power of Christ. That is enough.
Rob wing, on May 5, 2019 at 10:39 pm said:

I just had a coworker who at 40 was told her child had a severe genetic abnormality. She knew that the child probably wouldn’t make it to term and if he did wouldn’t survive. She continued the pregnancy and the child died and when she gave birth to him and saw him she said “ he’s so beautiful “ We as Catholics have to accept Gods will and know every life has value and is a gift from God. Only he can decide our destiny
Maria, on May 5, 2019 at 5:47 pm said:

At Mass, a host fell on the floor (it was a half of one, so maybe more prone to crumbs?) and the eucharistic minister picked it up and consumed it. After this I came up to receive communion but was scared that there may have been crumbs on the floor from it and that I was stepping on them. The floor is white so it’s hard to see if there are crumbs unless one gets down and examines thoroughly. I’m very scrupulous about stuff like this so I didn’t do anything except glance after Mass to see if I saw anything visible, but I didn’t get down and look closely at the floor. Like I said I was trying not to be super scrupulous so I tried not to worry too much about it and tried to trust that the eucharistic minister would have looked for crumbs as he was picking it up. He’s a good guy so I tried to leave the responsibiltiy to him in my mind. I’m not sure though. I prayed that my guardian angel would pick up any crumbs left on the floor and I let it go. Was this the right thing to do? I’m worried the Lord is going to think I don’t care but I was trying not to worry too much, but I was also a little scared of looking weird on my hands and knees after Mass looking at the floor. I didn’t know if that would be too much though. Did I sin mortally?

FATHER JOE: I do not think you sinned at all. Dropping a host is always an anxious moment. Modern fresh hosts do not easily crumble. The issue is often with the hosts created locally by special groups… they might get teh recipe correct but not have a hot enough oven. The main responsibility is with the minister of the sacrament and the priest offering Mass. Our main concern these days is the failure to consume hosts or even those who would take a host for sacrilege.
Melvyn G, on May 5, 2019 at 11:19 am said:

“FATHER JOE:

Abortion is regarded as a matter of mortal sin because it is a grievous sin to commit murder or to kill innocent people. This is in line with the Decalogue and divine positive law.”

What if the child is unwanted, will be unloved, and possibly neglected or even abused? Why isn’t it better to abort such a child?

FATHER JOE: Such a mentality would allow the killing of special needs children and unwanted children who are passed around through foster homes as a nuisance for social services. Would you execute all children who are orphans or who have suffered abuse? Why would we condemn innocent children for our own selfishness and refusal to love and prize them as does God? Illegal immigrants may be unwanted. Should we shoot down these families as they attempt to cross the border? The value of life is the same for human persons, both inside and outside the womb.
Nicholas, on May 5, 2019 at 1:04 am said:

Recently I have been waking up with raised marks on my skin like scratches on my neck or arms and legs. I’m terrified of demonic possession so that was where my thoughts went first. More recently marks have been appearing on my arms overnight, and one looks like an inverted cross. They itch terribly.

I know what I am experiencing has a name, dermatographia, but the preciseness of the shapes is worrying me. Is this something I should talk to my priest about? Or just brush it off as my body reacting in a weird way to what i’m doing in my sleep, probably exacerbated by my fears of being possessed?

FATHER JOE: It is more likely that you have a physical ailment over anything spiritual.
Randell Harris, on May 4, 2019 at 10:17 pm said:

Hi, I have a question and I know we don’t suppose to question faith, but one night I was standing outside my mother house and I saw reddish orange eyes in the sky looking directly at me then it vanish, after that I was kind of scared so I went back inside my mother house. What does it mean?

FATHER JOE: I have no idea. Maybe you saw a few high flying airplanes?
Ginger, on May 4, 2019 at 9:39 am said:

Fr Joe,
If you go to confession but forget to mention a mortal sin, is it forgiven? I never knew (although admittedly I should have) that lying is considered grave matter. I’ve lied a lot in my life, from white lies to bigger matters, though never under oath (which is what I assumed the bearing false witness commandment referred to, idiot that I am). I can remember one item in particular from a year ago or more, that I never confessed, because I just never thought to. Admittedly I wasn’t as thorough in my examination of conscience as I could have been, if I forgot about this. I’ve been to confession often since then. I never intentionally omitted this from my confession. Am I forgiven and free to receive communion?

FATHER JOE: It is not true that all lies are necessarily mortal sins. All mortal sins should be confessed in the sacrament of penance. If you genuinely forget to confess a grievous sin then your confession is still good. Given that you remember the mortal sin later, you should confess it the next time you go to confession, even though it has already been forgiven previously with absolution.
MINI MATHEW, on May 3, 2019 at 9:45 pm said:

Hi Fr. Joseph, I have a question. My husband owns a construction company. He built a house for a non-christian recently and they have invited us for their House blessing hindu ritual. As a catholic, can we attend this ritual of our client?

FATHER JOE: You could attend but let them know that your faith would not allow you to actively participate.
Reshma, on May 2, 2019 at 6:19 am said:

Dear Father Joe

Thank you for replying to me regarding courtroom. Tour replies were amazing. Regarding binding prayer , is it ok for me to say this prayer.
In the name of Jesus , we bind and command all the powers of forces of evil to depart right now away from our homes, our land and our ministries and we seal all of us in your precious blood that was shed on the cross ( i say this prayer daily along with asking for Mother Mary protection and intercession ).
God bless you father
Jeff, on May 2, 2019 at 12:50 am said:

Fr. Joe:

Is visualization techniques for healing as promoted by people such as Dr. Andrew Weil contrary to Catholic teaching?

FATHER JOE: I really know nothing about him or his version of alternative medicine so I really cannot say.
RandomGirl, on May 2, 2019 at 12:32 am said:

Dear Fr Joe,

Hi, I saw the canon law of Abortion and how it’s a mortal sin but I have a question. Let’s say that a women had to abort a baby because she has cancer and is having chemotherapy or such women is having a baby and has discovered it has a disease/disability that will kill them in the future? Is abortion now justifiable and not a sin in situations like theses?

I’m sorry if I’m asking too much but I have a question about a sin I did too. On Palm Sunday, my Grandma and I were gonna go to mass and she was worried that we were not going to make it. I told her that we didn’t have to go if she didn’t want to. After saying that I felt bad because of this whole mortal sin thing and I said we could go at 12:00 pm. We ended up going and I took communion is these both mortal sins?

FATHER JOE:

Abortion is regarded as a matter of mortal sin because it is a grievous sin to commit murder or to kill innocent people. This is in line with the Decalogue and divine positive law.

Automatic excommunication is attached to abortion as an imposed Church censure; however you must be aware of the censure so as to incur the sanction.

Given the principle of double effect, a woman might ethically have a diseased or cancerous uterus surgically removed although she is carrying a child. The intent is to remove the cancer, not to kill the child. However, there are heroic women who risk or surrender their lives so that their babies might be born and have a chance at life.

The direct abortion of a healthy child because of cancer and the need for chemotherapy would be deemed as immoral. The doctors must try to save both patients. A child that has a defect like Downs or a proclivity for a future ailment also has a right to life and an incommensurate value as a person. It would be immoral and possibly genocidal to abort such a class of human beings. Such is reminiscent of Nazi eugenics. Abortion cannot be justified.

As for what you said and did on Palm Sunday, the main thing is that you actually made it to Mass. What you said to your grandmother may have been silly but it did not rise to the level of mortal sin.